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Police Reports 9-11-17

Franklin Police Chief Sabria McGuire reported the following arrests:
Ronald Lumpkin, 40, of Martin Luther King Boulevard, Franklin, was arrested Thursday at 4:20 p.m. on a warrant for Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office for the charge of non-support. Lumpkin was booked, processed, and held on an $18,005 bond.
Morris Thibeaux, 61, of Franklin, was arrested Sunday at 9:23 p.m. on the charge of remaining where forbidden. Thibeaux was booked, processed, and held on a $500 bond.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported the following arrests:
Juvenile male, 16, of Berwick, was arrested Friday at 9:01 a.m. on charges of ungovernable juvenile, possession of Schedule I marijuana, unlawful possession of tobacco by a person under 18 and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A deputy responded to a call for service regarding the welfare of a juvenile who could not be located by his parent. The deputy found the juvenile at a residence in Bayou Vista and learned that he was refusing to go to school. While speaking with him, the deputy received consent to search his backpack and located a cigarette, a small amount of marijuana, and two lighters. Following the investigation, the deputy released the juvenile to his parent pending juvenile court proceedings.
Curstone Alfred, 41, of 298 Eves St., Jeanerette, was additionally charged on Saturday at 9:51 a.m. with illegal possession of stolen things. In the early morning hours of Friday, a deputy responded to a call for service from a residence on Cypremort Road where a male subject was banging on a door and stating that he ran out of gas and needed help. The deputy located the subject, identified as Alfred, sitting inside a car near the residence. The deputy observed a refrigerator protruding from the trunk of the vehicle. The refrigerator was seized pending further investigation. Later that morning, deputies received a report of a burglary at a residence on La. 83. A detective assigned to the case learned that a refrigerator, matching the description of the appliance in Alfred’s possession, was stolen. Alfred was already incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center on charges stemming from the trespassing complaint. Alfred remains incarcerated. No bail is set.
Jackie Davis Jr., 43, of 3046 Rayford Road, Spring, was arrested Friday at 12:30 p.m. on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of direct contempt of court, speeding and failure to honor written promise to appear. Davis turned himself in at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. Davis was released on a $400 bond.
Brandy Armond, 38, of 413 Tournament Blvd., Berwick, was arrested Friday at 2:03 p.m. on charges of remaining where forbidden and resisting an officer giving false information. A deputy was dispatched to a business in Bayou Vista where a subject refused to leave. Deputies made contact with a female subject. The subject refused deputies repeated requests to identify herself. Deputies later identified her as Armond. Following the investigation, Armond was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set.
James Pollard, 49, of 413 Camille St., Patterson, was arrested Friday at 8:01 p.m. on charges of speeding and operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. A deputy enforcing traffic safety on US 90 in Bayou Vista observed a vehicle travelling 75 miles per hour in a posted 45 miles per hour zone. The deputy conducted a traffic stop, spoke with Pollard, and found that his driver’s license was suspended. Pollard was released on a summons.
Melanie Corbin, 50, of 515 Leona St., Morgan City, was arrested Friday at 10:02 p.m. on charges of speeding, expired driver’s license and expired license plate. A deputy enforcing traffic safety on US 90 in Bayou Vista observed a vehicle travelling 63 miles per hour in a posted 45 miles per hour zone. The deputy conducted a traffic stop, spoke with Corbin, and found that her driver’s license and license plate was expired. Corbin was released on a summons.
Shannon Billiot, 48, of 701 Onstead St., Morgan City, was arrested Saturday at 10:21 p.m. on charges of no license plate light, operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of direct contempt of court, speeding and failure to honor written promise to appear.
Austin Williams, 18, of 313 Aristile Road, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested Friday at 9:08 p.m. on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of Schedule I marijuana.
A deputy conducted a traffic stop on La. 182 in Amelia after observing a vehicle without a working license plate light. The deputy spoke with the driver, Billiot, and passenger, Williams. The deputy found that Billiot was driving with a suspended license and that Billiot and Williams both had active warrants for their arrests. Billiot and Williams were transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Billiot was released on a $1,630 bond. Williams was released on a $1,500 bond.
Kevin Smith Jr., 23, of 429 Big Four Corners Road, Four Corners, was arrested Saturday at 2:01 a.m. on the charge of possession of Schedule I marijuana and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of direct contempt of court, operating a vehicle without a driver’s license and failure to honor written promise to appear.
Deputies were providing security for a business as they closed for the night when they smelled the odor of marijuana coming from a vehicle in the parking lot. Deputies detained the driver, Smith, and located a small amount of marijuana on his person. A deputy also located an active warrant for Smith’s arrest. Smith was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Smith was released on a $2,395 bond.
Frank Lombas Jr., 43, 134 Kellers Lane, Franklin, was arrested Sunday at 7:43 pm on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of taking or possessing over limit or undersized freshwater gamefish. A Narcotics Section detective conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on US 90 in Berwick. The deputy spoke with the driver, Lombas, and located the active warrant for his arrest. Lombas was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Lombas was released on a $750 bond.
Andre Barnes, 34, of 208 Maryland St., Hammond, was arrested Sunday at 11:24 p.m. on two City Court of Hammond warrants for failure to appear on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana, driving with a suspended license, expired motor vehicle inspection and improper display of temporary plate. A deputy investigating a separate complaint at a business on La. 182 in Amelia spoke with Barnes and located the active warrants for his arrest. Barnes was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set.

Hospitals announce latest area births

Born to Mr. and Mrs. David Lee Cook (nee: Allison Nicole Champagne) of Berwick, a boy, Barry Joseph Cook, on Aug. 21 at Thibodaux Regional Medical. He weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 18½ inches. —— Born to Courtney Renee’ Arthur and Jade Philip Percle of Morgan City, a girl, Avery Grace Percle, on Aug. 25 at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. She weighed 5 pounds, 7.8 ounces and measured 18.03 inches. —— Born to Tiffany Thomas and Bobby Guidry III of Morgan City, a girl, Eliana Zoe Guidry, on Aug. 27 at Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City. She weighed 7 pounds,

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Irma-interrupted trip becomes mystery ‘cruise to nowhere’

MIAMI (AP) — When they first boarded the Norwegian Escape a week ago, passengers knew exactly where they were going. Now they have no idea.
The cruise ship, with about 4,000 guests on board, departed from Miami on Saturday, Sept. 2, and was scheduled to return a week later, after making stops in Honduras, Belize and Mexico.
The boat made it to the Honduran island of Roatan on Monday and Belize the following day. But on Tuesday, passengers were told that their ports of call at Mexico’s Cozumel island and the Costa Maya had been canceled.
The dangerous and powerful Hurricane Irma, which had carved a path of death and destruction across a string of Caribbean islands, was headed straight for Florida, home to a fair number of passengers on the ship. Many of those passengers had already switched from relaxation to disaster-preparation mode, and were eager to get home to secure their belongings and ensure the safety of their pets.
Michael Davis, who lives near the water in St. Augustine, Florida, was one of them.
“Once they said, ‘We’re heading back,’ then the mood shifted from vacation time to, ‘Alright, let’s get home and get it taken care of,’” said Davis, 42.
But there was only a short window of time to drop them off before it would be too dangerous to dock in Miami. So the ship arrived in port Thursday afternoon, two days early, allowing hundreds of passengers to disembark.
Hundreds more had no reason to get off, however, and knew that competing with Florida residents evacuating the state ahead of the storm for rental cars and flights was a losing proposition. So they chose a second option: a “cruise to nowhere.”
The Escape headed back out to sea Thursday evening, with a new manifest of about 4,000 that included both some of the original passengers as well as some fellow travelers who disembarked early from a separate ship called the Norwegian Sky. They, too, had decided to prolong their seagoing adventures.
The cruisers have no idea where they are headed or when they will return. A lot of it, they were told, would be up to Irma: which path she decides to take and how long she will linger.
“We said to guests that we cannot confirm when or where you’ll be coming back, but obviously we’ll make every effort to return the ship to port as soon as it’s safe to do so,” said Norwegian Cruise Line spokeswoman Vanessa Picariello.
Picariello said the ship “is heading west,” but she did not have a more precise route. She said the ship will try to make a port of call if it’s safe to do so “but if not, guests will enjoy a cruise to nowhere and be able to be safe and out of the storm.”
Picariello added that the ship plans to return to Miami, but that cruise officials will look into alternate ports if the one in Miami is damaged by the hurricane.
Margaret Cunningham of Battle Ground, Washington, said she decided to stay on board with her husband, Mike, after the captain assured them the ship could avoid Irma and even outrun a hurricane.
“They’ve been very clear that they’re not going to run out of food. They’re not going to run out of water. They’re not going to run out of booze — very important — and so we’re just going to stay on and enjoy the ride,” said Cunningham, 65, who is recently retired.
Barbara Engel, who could not get a flight home to Dallas, said she believed staying on the ship was her best option.
“I’ve got everything here and more than I would want, and we can run” from the storm if necessary, Engel, 49, said shortly before the ship pulled into port in Miami on Thursday. “So really, all told, I think I’m in the best place I can be at this time.”
Debbie Kendrick, of Courtland, Ohio, said she has enjoyed the cruise, even if she hasn’t slept quite as well because she doesn’t know when or where it will end.
“I appreciate that the cruise line wants to keep us safe,” she said. “They’re not just dropping us off.”
—Associated Press Airlines Writer David Koenig contributed to this report.

Herpes infection keeps lonely woman on the dating sidelines

DEAR ABBY: I am a 65-year-old woman, attractive and lonely. I am uncomfortable using dating sites because I have genital herpes. I was infected by my first husband more than 40 years ago. If I were to meet someone on one of those sites, when would be the right time to reveal my problem? After we have gotten to know each other? Or should I be up front about it and say something when we first meet? I am, naturally, afraid of condemnation and/or contempt. UNSURE IN NEW YORK DEAR UNSURE: Herpes is an infection, not a scarlet letter. Many people carry the ...

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Soap Opera Review: Confusing feelings on ‘GH’

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Despite being kicked out of Eric and Quinn’s home, Sheila is still determined to have Eric to herself. Maya is feeling insecure with how close Nicole is to Lizzy and asked Rick to help limit the time Nicole spends with the child. DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Tripp donated his inheritance from his mother, Ava, to Salem Hospital in part to atone for nearly ruining Kayla’s medical career. John and Marlena are still trying to escape the mental hospital Hattie (as Marlena) had them locked up in. GENERAL HOSPITAL: Elizabeth counseled Griffin, who has been spending a lot ...

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Berwick, Morgan City win week 2 contests

Berwick High School improved to 2-0, while Morgan City picked up its first win of the season to highlight Tri-City prep football action in week 2.
Berwick upset Class 3A's ninth-ranked squad, Northwest, 52-34 in Berwick. The Panthers received votes in this week's 3A poll, too.
Meanwhile, Morgan City (1-1) defeated Hanson Memorial, 29-24, scoring a touchdown with less than a minute remaining to erase a late deficit.
Elsewhere, Central Catholic (0-2) fell at home to Class 3A Archbishop Hannan, 21-13, while Patterson (1-1) fell at Assumption, 41-32.
In week 3, Berwick will be at home when it hosts South Terrebonne, while Morgan City will host North Central. Patterson will travel to face Lafayette High, while Central Catholic will hit the road again to face False River. All games will be played on Friday with 7 p.m. starts.
Below are other Week 2 scores from across Louisiana, courtesy of The Associated Press:

Acadiana 28, Ruston 6
Airline 27, Bastrop 26
Albany 28, Independence 7
Allen, Texas 28, Evangel Christian Academy 7
Amite 22, Loranger 20
Ascension Catholic 60, Sophie B. Wright 14
Ascension Catholic 7, Ben Franklin 6
Ascension Episcopal 21, Pointe Coupee Catholic 14
Avoyelles 30, Bunkie 21
Barbe 45, Riverside Academy 28
Basile 16, Mamou 14
Baton Rouge Catholic 24, Zachary 14
Baton Rouge Episcopal 21, St. Thomas Aquinas 14
Benton 63, Alexandria 25
Bossier 47, North Caddo 41
Brusly 43, St. John 2
Carencro 17, New Iberia 14
Carroll 26, Mansfield 18
Cedar Creek 55, D'Arbonne Woods 6
Centerville 37, Ridgewood 0
Central Hinds Aca., Miss. 42, Glenbrook 8
Central Private 41, Porter's Chapel Aca., Miss. 0
Centreville Aca., Miss. 38, Ben's Ford 14
Chalmette 51, Bogalusa 20
Church Point 41, Abbeville 7
Claiborne 42, Union Aca., Miss. 17
Copiah Aca., Miss. 14, River Oaks 6
Country Day 35, Bonnabel 0, 3OT
Covenant Christian Academy 40, Christian Life Academy 20
Covington 6, Holy Cross 0
Crowley 40, Westlake 16
De La Salle 38, St. Augustine 12
DeRidder 25, Washington-Marion 0
Delhi Charter 36, Madison 28
Delta Charter 34, Lincoln Preparatory School 33
Donaldsonville 50, White Castle 8
Dunham School 52, Baker 40
E.D. White 31, Erath 0
East Iberville 20, Hamilton Christian Academy 6
East St. John 33, West Jefferson 14
Elton 14, East Beauregard 6
Ferriday 52, Franklin Parish 0
Fisher 20, St. Martin's 19
Franklin Academy, Miss. 28, Tensas Academy 18
Franklinton 28, Fontainebleau 6
G.W. Carver 52, Central Lafourche 44
Grand Lake 13, Gueydan 12
Grant 48, DeQuincy 22
Haughton 42, B.T. Washington 6
Holy Savior Menard 21, Buckeye 13
Homer 28, Beekman 6
Houma Christian 27, Westminster Christian 21, OT
Humphreys Aca., Miss. 46, Tallulah 36
Huntington 33, Southwood 7
Iota 40, Oakdale 12
Iowa 30, Kinder 22
Jena 33, Rayville 22
Jennings 26, Eunice 10
John Ehret 46, Hahnville 41
Karr 24, Landry/Walker 0
Kentwood 46, Sumner 7
Lafayette Christian Academy 55, Loreauville 13
Lake Arthur 34, Pickering 6
Lakeside 38, Montgomery 14
Leesville 6, South Beauregard 0
Live Oak 45, Mandeville 21
Logansport 42, Lakeview 0
Loyola College Prep 20, West Ouachita 14
Mangham 36, St. Frederick Catholic 21
Many 50, Marksville 12
McDonogh #35 76, Higgins 0
Merryville 38, UA of Cenla 22
Minden 21, Haynesville 20
Minden 21, Haynesville 20
Natchitoches Central 25, Green Oaks 20
New Iberia Catholic 54, St. Louis 24
Newman 42, Thomas Jefferson 0
North Central 16, Mentorship Academy 14
North DeSoto 35, North Webster 7
North Vermilion 49, Franklin 20
Northeast 46, Belaire 22
Northlake Christian 47, False River Academy 27
Northshore 28, Salmen 14
Northside 28, Slaughter 24
Notre Dame 38, Breaux Bridge 7
O.P. Walker 40, Broadmoor 6
Oak Forest 21, Silliman 6
Oberlin 44, Delcambre 6
Opelousas Catholic 22, Vermilion Catholic 6
Ouachita Parish 34, Sulphur 21
Parkview Baptist 29, East Ascension 7
Pearl River 48, Sci Academy 16
Pine Prairie 26, Ville Platte 6
Pineville 58, Peabody 53
Plain Dealing 39, Bolton 15
Plaquemine 49, Port Allen 8
Ponchatoula 48, Denham Springs 30
Rayne 47, Lake Charles College Prep 6
Red River 18, Arcadia 14
Richwood 33, Shreveport Northwood 32
Ringgold 8, Lena Northwood 6
Riverdale Academy 52, Christian Collegiate, Miss. 16
Riverfield 55, Hillcrest Christian, Miss. 6
Rosepine 39, South Cameron 7
Saint Paul's 31, Jesuit 6
Sam Houston 42, Cecilia 7
Sicily Island 28, Block 22
Slidell 41, Lake Area New Tech Early College 16
South Lafourche 38, Thibodaux 28
Springfield 34, W.L. Cohen 24
St. Amant 41, Helen Cox 9
St. Charles Catholic 24, Destrehan 8
St. Helena Central 20, East Feliciana 12
St. James 13, Lutcher 7
St. Martinville 28, Lafayette 20
St. Mary's 62, Winnfield 35
St. Michael 21, KIPP Renaissance 14
St. Patrick, Miss. 14, Pope John Paul II 12
St. Thomas More 49, Comeaux 0
Sterlington 35, Ouachita Christian 0
Tara 51, Glen Oaks 20
Terrebonne 42, South Terrebonne 2
Teurlings Catholic 41, LaGrange 14
Tioga 41, Jonesboro-Hodge 6
Union Parish 32, Calvary Baptist Academy 25
University (Lab) 35, Southern Lab 16
Vandebilt Catholic 62, H.L. Bourgeois 10
Varnado 44, Pine 14
Vinton 47, Highland Baptist 21
Walker 40, Broadmoor 6
Warren Central, Miss. 17, Neville 7
Wayne Aca., Miss. 29, Bowling Green 14
Welsh 27, Kaplan 18
West Feliciana 29, Livonia 25
West Monroe 30, Booker T. Washington, Okla. 21
West St. John 34, South Plaquemines 0
Westgate 14, Jeanerette 6
Woodlawn (BR) 14, Hammond 7

Morgan City, Patterson win volleyball games

Morgan City High School defeated St. Martinville 3-1 (28-26, 18-25, 25-21, 25-10) in prep volleyball action at Morgan City Thursday.
The Lady Tigers recorded seven aces and seven solo blocks in the win.
Sh’Diamond Holly, Kennedy Hebert and Jolee Nini led the squad. Holly had 19 kills, one dig and one solo block, while Hebert recorded 11 kills, five digs and three solo blocks. Nini turned in 32 assists, three aces and two digs.
Other top Morgan City contributors were Allie Vincent, one assist, two aces and 11 digs; McKenzi Smith, 10 digs; Jamie Francois, one kill, one assist and two solo blocks; and Karmen Peterson, one kill and one solo block.
Morgan City (4-3) will return to action Tuesday when it hosts Delcambre. Freshman action is set for a 4 p.m. start with junior varsity and varsity to follow.
Patterson
sweeps Franklin
The Patterson Lumberjills won their season opener with a 3-0 sweep of Franklin.
Patterson won the games by scores of 25-5, 25-22 and 25-16.
No individual stats were available.
Patterson (1-0) will return to action Tuesday when it hosts Ellender at 4 p.m.
Berwick falls at H.L. Bourgeois’ tournament
The Berwick Lady Panthers fell twice at H.L. Bourgeois’ tournament Thursday as H.L. Bourgeois and De La Salle both defeated the local squad.
H.L. Bourgeois won 2-0 (25-14, 25-15), while De La Salle won 2-0)25-13, 25-22).
Berwick (2-3) will return to action in the tournament Saturday.

Marcus Jones/100 Black Men 5K Fun Run/Walk results

Kevin Castille and Ashley Young were the top finishers in the 2017 Marcus Jones/100 Black Men of St. Mary Parish 5K Fun Run/Walk Saturday. The event was held in Morgan City in conjunction with the 82nd annual Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival. Castille won first overall male, and Young was the first overall female winner. Other Philip Guidry was second overall male and Travel Darnell was No. 3 on the men’s side. Chelsey Marcrum was second overall on the female side, and Jean Karpan was third. Below are the complete results: Men —1st Overall Male: Kevin Castille. —2nd Overall Male: Philip Guidry. —3rd Overall Male: Travis Darnell. —Ages 30-39:

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Not much demand for alligator skins this year

One of the things you can pretty much take to the bank following the long Labor Day weekend here in St. Mary Parish is alligator season opening the following Wednesday.
Oh, sure, gator season has been open in the east zone for a week by then. Moreover, the east zone does catch a sliver of St. Mary Parish along the Atchafalaya River, but by and large, the majority is in the west zone.
It’s not that the season is closed this year. On the contrary, it’s still on. Only something is different. And what’s different is many of the large land companies aren’t participating in the wild alligator harvest because of suppressed prices the reptiles are bringing.
Perry fur and alligator hide buyer Wendell Nunez says one of the reasons for lower prices is due to an over-abundance of farm-raised gators.
“Twenty to 25 years ago, you had nearly zero farm gators,” Nunez said. “Back then, 99 percent of the alligators harvested were wild. Today, there could possibly be a million farm gators on the market. And that doesn’t include caiman being raised in South America and crocodiles being raised in South Africa and Australia.
“Based on all of the major land companies who are not going out to catch wild gators this year, I could see a maximum of maybe 7,000 alligators being caught and sold this year,” Nunez said. “It’s going to be a real situation going forward, I tell ya.”
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries annually issues roughly 38,000 tags to landowners. Nunez said when the season started, alligator hunters would be looking at somewhere around $10 per foot for larger gators. Larger gators, according to the buyer, are 8 foot and above.
From $10, prices declined, where Nunez guessed wild alligators would possibly go for $6 per foot for 7-foot-long animals, $5 for 6s, $3 for 5s, and possibly $2 for 4s.
Worse, that’s only if you can find a buyer.
If there is any consolation, it’s that wild alligators, though prices are low today, always will have some demand because farm gators aren’t typically sold at a length not much longer than 4, 5 or 6 feet. It’s too costly for gator farmers to raise them beyond that length.
Farm alligators are grown fast by keeping them in controlled temperatures where they eat year around, unlike wild gators that go dormant following the first cold fronts each fall. Farmers will heat the environment alligators are kept in to increase their metabolism, thus increasing their growth rate.
One of the advantages of farm-raised alligators is typically they are in prime condition when hides are sold. Farm gators don’t have the scars, damage and eaten limbs wild alligators often do.
As of 2017, there are eight southern states with large enough populations of American alligators to hold controlled harvests. What’s more, it’s possible that North Carolina, with a stable and growing population, could become the ninth state as time goes on.
Louisiana and Mississippi, since the ’70s, have been joined at the hip with their respective alligator harvest programs, although their approach to managing this renewable resource differs. Early on, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries worked closely with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, transferring 4,000 alligators from Rockefeller Wildlife Management Area in coastal Louisiana to Mississippi.
Where Louisiana manages with its focus primarily on commercial alligator harvest, Mississippi manages recreationally, according to Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks Alligator Program Manager Ricky Flynt.
“Our desire was to make our alligator program a recreational sport hunt from the beginning,” Flynt said. “Louisiana has 20-fold more habitat for alligators than Mississippi does. But, our program has grown tremendously. The program started in 2005, and at the time, it was a very small harvest. We issued 50 permits that first year for a 13-mile stretch of public waters along the Pearl River.
“In 2014, 7,400 people submitted applications,” Flynt added. “And in 2015, we went to a first-come, first-serve basis. We issued 920 permits in 45 minutes and had over 11,000 people that year, using some kind of electronic or computer device, trying to get one.”
Besides a flooded market, the fashion world plays a critical role. What may be popular today won’t be tomorrow. The demand for quality reptile leather products isn’t flourishing.
However, one advantage Mississippi’s sport alligator hunters have is they don’t have a commercial interest and aren’t typically looking to sell their hides. Instead, they’re usually hoping to put a little meat in the freezer and draping a tanned trophy skin over the back of their couches.
There have been a few wild alligator purchases made locally at processing sites when the east zone opened last week.
How much of a demand there is remains to be seen. Quite often, prices decline after the first couple days when quotas are reached by buyers. This year, those quotas aren’t going to be much.

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